Henkel pledges to use by 2030 only one-third of today's inputs for every euro it generates; company cut its waste footprint by 50% per metric ton of output in the past 10 years

Graziela Medina Shepnick

DUESSELDORF, Germany, and ROCKY HILL, Connecticut , March 8, 2012 (press release) – For more than two decades, Henkel has been publishing a dedicated Sustainability Report alongside its Annual Report. In the 21st issue, which is being published today, the company is presenting its new Sustainability Strategy 2030. At the core of this is the goal of achieving more with less and tripling its efficiency. The new sustainability strategy applies to all business sectors and the entire value chain. In North America, Henkel markets a range of well-known consumer and industrial brands, including Dial® soaps, Purex® laundry detergents, Right Guard® antiperspirants, and Loctite® adhesives.

By 2030, Henkel aims to be using only one-third of today's inputs for every euro it generates. In order to reduce its ecological footprint and make sustainable consumption possible, the company has defined three major approaches: products, partners, and people. Through their commitment and knowledge, all of Henkel's 47,000 employees around the world make important contributions to implementing the new sustainability strategy. Beyond its core business of developing and producing innovative products, the company intends to involve its customers and consumers as well as suppliers and industrial users even more closely in its efforts to foster sustainability along the entire value chain. At the same time, Henkel helps its customers to reduce their own environmental footprint.

"We must find ways of achieving more with less," emphasizes Henkel CEO Kasper Rorsted. "Not only do we have a duty to future generations to pursue sustainable development, sustainability also makes economic sense for us and is an important competitive factor. It reduces costs, drives innovation, and strengthens our position in the markets of the future."

Sustainability leader
Henkel's sustainability performance over the past ten years shows how the company works continuously to improve its efficiency and safety: Energy and water consumption have been reduced by 42 percent and the waste footprint by 50 percent per metric ton of output. Over the same period, the number of occupational accidents dropped by 85 percent.

Henkel's leading position in sustainability is regularly confirmed by independent external ratings, awards and rankings. One example is Henkel's listing in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index since this was established in 1999. Last year, the company was named sustainability leader in the Nondurable Household Products sector for the fifth time in succession.

To find information on sustainability at Henkel, visit www.henkel.com/sustainability
Further information and examples are provided in the current Sustainability Report. The print version is supplemented by the online report at www.henkel.com/sustainabilityreport

Henkel operates worldwide with leading brands and technologies in three business areas: Laundry & Home Care, Cosmetics/Toiletries and Adhesive Technologies. Founded in 1876, Henkel holds globally leading market positions both in the consumer and industrial businesses with well-known brands such as Persil, Schwarzkopf and Loctite. Henkel employs about 47,000 people and reported sales of 15,605 million euros and adjusted operating profit of 2,029 million euros in fiscal 2011. Henkel's preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX and the company ranks among the Fortune Global 500.

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.